Edge Davao Volume 13 Issue 270 | Tuesday, March 2. 2021

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City to start Covid-19 immunization program as soon as vaccine arrives STORY ON PAGE 2

Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio offers a prayer during the 84th Araw ng Dabaw thanksgiving mass at San Pedro Cathedral in Davao City on Monday.

The Araw ng Dabaw celebration this year kicked off on Monday.

Edge Davao

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VOL.13 ISSUE 270 • TUESDAY, MARCH 2, 2021

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President Rodrigo Duterte inspects a vial of COVID-19 vaccine Coranavac (SINOVAC) after the ceremonial turnover at the Bulwagang Kalayaan in Villamor Air Base, Pasay City on Sunday. PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

Sara wants to focus on raising kids: PRRD

City to start Covid-19 immunization program as soon as vaccine arrives

By MAYA M. PADILLO

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he city government of Davao vowed to start the Covid-19 immunization rollout to 7,500 frontline health workers and 25,000 non-health workers in the priority list “anytime” the vaccines will be delivered in Davao City.

The national government received the first batch of Covid-19 vaccines in the country

on Sunday (February 28, 2021) that paved the way for the start of mass inoculation campaign with

shots developed by China's Sinovac Biotech.

The Chinese government has donated 600,000 doses of Sinovac CoronaVac. Mayor Sara said it is not stated how many doses of the said vaccines will be released to Davao City.

"Kung muabot tomorrow ang vaccines, makasugod ta ug Wednesday or anytime

na muabot siya the day after puwede nata magpadagan sa atong vaccination program," the mayor said.

Dr. Ashley Lopez, city health officer, reported that based on the masterlist, a total of 537,820 priority individuals composed of frontline health workers, senior citizens, indigent

ito para ipakita sa publiko na dapat magtiwala tayo sa bakuna,” Go said during a radio interview on Sunday, February 28.

“Sabay po kami magpapabakuna, in public po, at inaantay nalang namin, pinagpipilian ng kanyang doktor kung ano pong bakuna ang pwede sa kanyang edad na pwede sa kanyang kalusugan,” he added.

Go said that once Duterte’s physician has

recommended a vaccine, they will be inoculated together in public.

“Once meron na pong napili, willing kami sabay in public na magpabakuna,” he said.

Go also shared that several public officials have agreed to be vaccinated in public to allay apprehensions about getting inoculated due to safety concerns.

“Meron po tayong opisyales na nagbolun-

taryong magpabakuna headed by Secretary (Carlito) Galvez at Secretary Vince Dizon ,” Go said.

Go said that vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. and Deputy Chief Implementer of the National Task Force Against COVID-19 Vince Dizon are willing to be inoculated with the Sinovac vaccine.

Metropolitan Manila

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Go says PRRD will be vaccinated to allay fears, boost public confidence

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enator Christopher “Bong” Go expressed his willingness to be vaccinated together with President Rodrigo Duterte in public to demonstrate the vaccines’ safety and efficacy.

“It's not a question anymore if the President is willing to be vaccinated in public or not because we all want to be vaccinated. We are doing this not because we are priority. Gagawin po namin

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resident Rodrigo Duterte on Sunday said his daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara “Inday” Duterte has no plans of being his successor in 2022 because she wants to focus on raising her three children.

In a press conference in Pasay City, Duterte said Sara told him that she would not rush herself into running for the country’s highest post anytime soon.

“Si Sara ayaw because may anak kasi yan tatlo.

Maliliit pa. Gusto niya na magfocus muna siya sa family. Sabi niya sa akin, marami pa namang panahon (Sara doesn’t want to run because she has three kids who are still young. She wants to focus on her family. She told me that there’s still much time),” Duterte said.

While speaking to him, he said Sara even borrowed his own quote: “She used my favorite statement. Sabi niya, kung gusto rin ng Diyos maging presidente ako kagaya ng sa iyo, magiging presidente ako (She said, if God wants me to be president like you, I’ll be president).”

Duterte went on to say that the presidency is “a gift from God.” He said Sara does not want to run for president because after her term, she would have trouble looking for another job.

“Ayaw niya ngayon.

Sabi niya, kung magpresidente siya, just assuming, assuming after six years, bata pa siya, anong gawin niya? As an ex-president, hindi siya makatrabaho, hindi siya makaappear ng korte (She doesn’t want it now.

She said, if she becomes president, just assuming, assuming after six years, she’d still be young, what would she do? As an expresident, she won’t get to have another job, she can’t appear before court),” he said.

Duterte said being president did not even earn him a lot of money.

“At sabi ko mabuti sana kung maganda yung suweldo, makapag-ipon siya. Pero wala ka namang ambisyon. Diyan ka lang, trabaho (And I said, it’s good if it pays well, she’d be able to save. But since you don’t have any ambitions. Just stay there, just work),” he added.

Last Feb. 24, Duterte maintained that he opposed the idea of letting his daughter follow his footsteps.

“Inday Sara is not running. I have really, really put my foot down," he said.

Sara has repeatedly said she has no plan to run for president in 2022 despite mounting calls for her to join the presidential race. (PNA)

VOL.13 ISSUE 270 • TUESDAY, MARCH 2, 2021

NEWS 3

EDGEDAVAO

Gov’t accelerating vaccine rollout

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Sen. Bong Go said the government is exerting all efforts to ramp up and accelerate the national vaccination program while simultaneously ensuring the safety and efficacy of the procured vaccines.

s the country prepares for the anticipated arrival of several batches of vaccines in the coming days, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go said the government is exerting all efforts to ramp up and accelerate the national vaccination program while simultaneously ensuring the safety and efficacy of the procured vaccines.

“This is just the start.

We need to do more. We need to accelerate the vaccination program in a safe, sure and secure manner,” Go began in an interview on Saturday, February 27.

“Ang gusto ng mahal na Pangulo ay ilalagay [ang mga bakuna] sa strategic places. Of course, sa Visayas, sa mga naka-ready na pasilidad doon sa hospital sa Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (sa Cebu City). Sa Davao City, sa Southern Philippines Medical Center dahil nakapaghanda na rin sila doon…Ang gusto ni Pangulo distributed [ang mga bakuna] all over the country,” he continued.

The Senator disclosed President Rodrigo Duterte had ordered the first round of vaccinations to begin by the first week of March. He maintained, however, that the details of the rollout will be provided in due course

by Chief Implementer of the National Task Force Against COVID-19 and vaccine czar Secretary Galvez Jr. “First week of March darating rin ang unang batch ng bakuna sa Visayas at Mindanao. Pagkarating nito, susunod na araw pwede na mag-inoculate,” Go shared based on his discussions with Galvez.

He further added that the President had recently left open the possibility of revisiting his decision to reject the recommendation of the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases to place the country under modified general community quarantine.

“Inatasan ni Pangulo Duterte na sa susunod na linggo umpisahan na agad ang pagtuturok ng mga bakuna, especially

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84th Araw ng Dabaw a salute to all frontliners, Dabawenyos Bong Go commends PRRD for M signing coco levy trust fund law

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enator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go commended President Rodrigo Duterte for signing into law a measure he co-authored which provides for the utilization of the Coco Levy Fund to benefit the country’s coconut farmers.

“I commend the President for signing this law that would benefit and promote the welfare of our less fortunate coconut farmers,” Go said.

“Bilang isa sa mga malalaking producers ng coconut sa mundo, napakahalaga po ng coconut industry sa ating bansa. Napakarami sa ating mga magsasaka ang nakikinabang at nakasalalay ang pamumuhay sa industriyang ito. Kaya naman po nagagalak tayo na sa wakas ay may batas na na magsusulong ng kanilang mga karapatan at kapakanan,” he added.

The President signed Republic Act No. 11524 or the Coconut Farmers and Industry Trust Fund Act on Friday, February 26. Under the law, the Philippine Coconut Authority is tasked to craft the Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Plan which will “set the directions and policies for the development and rehabilitation of the coconut industry within 50 years.”

The law also mandates the Bureau of Treasury to transmit PhP10 billion to the trust fund in the first year; PhP10 billion in the second year; PhP15 billion in the third year; PhP15 billion in the fourth year; and PhP25 billion during the fifth year.

Around PhP5 billion from the coco levy trust fund will be utilized for the plans and programs of the Coconut Farmers

and Industry Development Plan, including the training of coconut farmers and their families, planting and replanting of hybrid coconut seedlings, among others.

The law also strengthens the PCA to ensure the implementation of the plan.

Department of Agriculture Secretary William Dar earlier welcomed and supported the measure, saying that the “decades-long awaited legislative measure will greatly help rehabilitate and modernize the country’s coconut industry.”

Dar added that the law will help unleash the potential of the Philippine coconut industry by paving the way to further increase the country’s export revenues from the coconut agriculture sector.

During a Senate public hearing on the mea-

sure in September last year, Go, who co-authored the measure, had earlier asked its sponsor, Senator Cynthia Villar, as to the number of coconut farmers who will benefit from the measure. Villar responded, saying that the latest figure in 2017 is 2.4 million.

Villar also mentioned that the intended beneficiaries came from 67 coconut producing provinces, five cities and 1,346 towns in the Philippines.

Go then sought assurance that the initial funding for the measure is enough to be able to uplift less fortunate coconut farmers.

President Duterte vetoed in 2019 an earlier version of the measure approved during the 17th Congress, citing the lack of “vital safeguards” in a letter addressed to Congress.

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By MAYA M. PADILLO ayor Sara Duterte-Carpio urged Dabawenyos to celebrate this year’s Araw ng Dabaw in remembrance to frontliners who lost their lives while paying tribute to those who are actively involved in the fight against Covid-19.

"Let this 2021 Araw ng Dabaw be a tribute to all our frontliners, to all whom we have lost this past year," she said in her 84th Araw ng Dabaw message.

She said the frontliners are close to her heart because of the help they have given to the city government in its fight against Covid-19.

Earlier, she gave away her one-year salary amounting to P2.1 million to a trust fund to help the frontliners of the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) who have been tested positive of Covid-19 last year.

Mayor Sara also said that this year's celebration is for each Dabawenyo abiding by the protocols set in place to ensure each other's safety.

"For it is our grit, our tenacity, and our discipline that will see us through to the end of this pandemic, in the hopes that we may one day safely celebrate our Araw ng Dabaw in the streets once more," she said.

This year is the second time that Dabawenyos celebrate Araw ng Dabaw virtually - without the usual festivities and gatherings that have been accustomed to in the past.

"A lot has happened in the span of a year; we are not the same city we were in 2020, and the threat of Covid-19 is still present, but as resilient and united Dabawenyos, we shall overcome, as we always have, in the face of adversity," she said.

The mayor urged

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4 ECONOMY EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 270 • TUESDAY, MARCH 2, 2021

A construction worker tries a sunglasses being displayed at a sidewalk along San Pedro Street in Davao City on Monday. Edge Davao

PH eyed as next gen Covid vaccine manufacturing site T

Tobacco excise collections surpass February target

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ilipino pharmaceutical firm Glovax Biotech has partnered with a Korean vaccine manufacturer to produce the EuCorVac-19 in the Philippines, should the government purchase 40 million doses of the Covid-19 vaccine.

In a statement, Glovax said it is in talks with the Department of Trade and Industry and the Board of Investments for the possible investment for next-generation Covid-19 vaccine production facility.

Should the government order 40 million doses of the vaccine, the company will invest PHP7 billion for the manufacturing plant and technology transfer cost,

said Glovax — the first and only company that brought the vaccine to the country during the AH1N1 swine flu pandemic in 2009 to 2010.

“The local Covid-19 vaccine plant is capable of producing 100 million doses of next-generation Covid-19 vaccine annually and could help in alleviating our burden of waiting for other countries’ excess supply,” Glovax added.

The company said National Task Force Against Covid-19 chief implementer and vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. has endorsed Glovax to the Department of Science and Technology.

The pharma firm will be partnering with Korean firm Eubiologics to locally produce EuCorVac-19, which was developed in the United States

by POP Biotechnologies.

EuCorVac-19 will be initially produced in South Korea before expanding in other markets like the Philippines.

“Glovax and Eubiologics are in the process of applying for the Emergency Use Authorization

(EUA),” Glovax said, adding that Eubiologics’ vaccine got the approval for combined Phase I and Phase II clinical trial from the South Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety in January 2021.

Aside from Eubiologics, Glovax is also partnering with another Korean firm, LG Chem, to locally produce pentavalent vaccine which gives immunity against five major diseases — diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, Hepatitis B, and Haemophilus influenzae type B, an infection responsible for pneumonia and meningitis.

“Glovax proposal to

ment Portal, corporations and other stakeholders can conveniently and securely pay registration and other fees anytime and anywhere,” SEC chairperson Emilio Aquino said.

Aquino said the online payment system is among the initiatives under the Commission’s ongoing digital transformation aimed at further improving the ease of doing business in the country.

The transacting public may access the SEC Payment Portal through the Commission’s website at www.sec.gov.ph/ apps/payment-portal/

home.

To proceed, clients only need to enter the reference number provided in the payment assessment form issued by the SEC, select a payment option, then provide the required information.

To ensure payments made through the SEC Payment Portal are secure, clients will receive a one-time pin in the mobile phone numbers linked to their bank accounts or digital wallets.

Once the payment goes through, the system will generate an electronic official receipt, which clients will also receive through email.

The SEC Payment Portal currently accepts debit and credit cards powered by Visa, Mastercard and JCB, as well as PayMaya wallets. Other payment options will be available soon.

Meanwhile, the Commission will continue to accept and process payments across its main, extension and satellite offices.

The transacting public may likewise pay registration and other transaction fees over the counter in select branches of Land Bank of the Philippines, and online through LandBank’s ePayment Portal. (PR)

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SEC makes payments easy with online portal

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aying registration and other transaction fees in the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is now faster, more convenient, and secure with the launch of the corporate securities regulator’s online payment system on March 1.

The newly developed SEC Payment Portal is a web-based system that allows for the payment of registration and other transaction fees, as well as penalties, online using debit and credit cards, digital wallets, and other cashless payment options.

“With the SEC Pay-

he Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has overshot its February 2021 target for tobacco excise tax collections by 4.28 percent, collecting PHP17.57 billion mid-month after Japan Tobacco International (JTI) Philippines Inc. paid taxes of PHP10.94 billion, which is more than double the amount it paid in January.

In a report to Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III, BIR Deputy Commissioner Arnel Guballa said preliminary data showed that from Feb. 1 to 18, the bureau already collected PHP721.24 million more than its tobacco excise tax target of PHP16.85 billion for the month.

The February 2021 collection in tobacco ex-

cise taxes is also PHP9.20 billion or 109.85-percent more than the amount of PHP8.37 billion collected in the same period in 2020.

“Noticeably, we have a big increase in the collection of tobacco excises because JTI opened its plant in Lima, Batangas.

So it’s in full operation, that’s why they increased their production. That’s also why we have quite a collection in tobacco for this month, sir,” Guballa said in his report during a recent Department of Finance (DOF) executive committee (Execom) meeting.

It is PHP12.33 billion or 73.53 percent more than the PHP16.77 billion collected for the January-February period of

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Indian pharma firms seek eased rules on entry to PH market

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ndian pharmaceutical companies want to expand their presence in the Philippines but stringent domestic laws become barriers for them to enter and be competitive in the local market.

In a joint webinar of the Federation of Indian Chambers and Commerce (Phil.) Inc. (FICCI) and the Indian Business Forum Philippine Association Inc. (IBF) Friday, IBF director Aseem Roy have mentioned some recommendations to the government to increase trade and investment between the two countries in the pharmaceutical industry.

Roy said one of the challenges of Indian pharmaceutical firms in the Philippines is the slow approval of products' registration by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

“What we hear most frequently is the delay of pharmaceutical products, even some products can take more than three years for approval,” he said.

Among the recommendations of the IBF is implementing a premium charge to expedite the process of registration, which will help in clearing the backlogs for FDA

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EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 270 • TUESDAY, MARCH 2, 2021

ECONOMY

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The completion of Towers 1 and 2 of Suntrust Properties Inc.’s (SPI) One Lakeshore Drive within Megaworld’s master-planned smart township estate called Davao Park District in Lanang, Davao City is being targeted in December 2021.

Edge Davao

Completion of One Lakeshore Drive towers eyed end of 2021 T T 16K indigents get P120-M medical aid, PCSO says he Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) has released over PHP120 million in medical assistance to 16,644 eligible indigent beneficiaries nationwide.

In a statement Sunday, PCSO general manager Royina Garma said the total amount of assistance was given to beneficiaries from Feb. 1 to 26.

The Medical Access Program (MAP), formerly known as the Individual Medical Assistance Program (IMAP), is designed to augment the medical needs of indigent Filipinos, particularly hospital confinement, chemotherapy, dialysis, and post-transplant medicines.

The program is funded by revenues from PCSO games nationwide.

Among the beneficiaries were 2,855 individuals from the National Capital Region (NCR) who received

a total of PHP28.56 million, and 4,606 individuals from Northern and Central Luzon who were given PHP35.13 million.

In the Southern Tagalog and Bicol Region, about PHP22.68 million were released to 4,302 indigents.

In the Visayas, the PCSO under the MAP also assisted 2,812 individuals who were provided with PHP20.84 million in medical aid, while 2,069 individuals in Mindanao benefited PHP12.82 million.

Earlier, Garma said the agency is continuing to provide medical assistance to the increasing number of indigents seeking help from PCSO amid the coronavirus disease crisis.

"Rest assured that the agency will find ways to meet the medical and health-related needs of all Filipinos, especially the marginalized," he said.

(PNA)

By MAYA M. PADILLO

One Lakeshore Drive is a four-tower development of Suntrust Properties Inc. (SPI) within Megaworld’s master-planned smart township estate called Davao Park District in Lanang, Davao City.

“Since completion is

expected towards the end of the year, turnover of units will follow in 2022,” said Engineer Leonora Gutierrez, senior assistant vice-president for regional operations of SPI. All in all, the four towers will carry 1,260 units with Towers 1 and

2 both house 314 units.

Each tower has a total of 18 floors with ground floor for commercial component, two floors (one above the commercial and basement) are for the parking, and the rest of the floors are for residential.

Gutierrez said Towers 3 and 4 are targeted to be completed middle of 2022.

One Lakeshore Drive

he Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) is urging local government units (LGUs) in Mindanao, especially populous provinces, to lead the region's cattle production program to ensure sufficient meat supply for their constituents.

In a statement Sunday, MinDA Secretary Emmanuel Piñol said the cattle production program, which is support-

ed by the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) through low-interest loans, aims to establish cattle breeding and fattening projects in each of the 29 provinces of Mindanao.

“The cattle fattening project involves the establishment of feedlots where steers and culled cows to be sourced from Australia or other cattle-producing countries would be fed for 100 days

before these are slaughtered for meat. A component of the cattle fattening project is a modern abattoir which would process the fattened cattle into market-ready products,” he said.

The cattle breeding project, Piñol said, would involve the upgrading of the local stocks of cattle through artificial insemination using semen from outstanding breeds.

“It would also include

he completion of Towers 1 and 2 of One Lakeshore Drive is being eyed in December 2021.

will occupy the 7.2 hectare area within the 11.2 hectare Davao District Park, which will have a office/Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) building, and a school.

SPI is a wholly owned subsidiary of property giant Megaworld known for building upscale condominiums, committed to deliver a “madayaw” or beautiful tower for their customers. the procurement of heifers or cows for local breeding to increase the cattle population in Mindanao,” he said.

Piñol said MinDA will integrate the cattle production program with its sorghum development program which will provide the needed silage.

“Initially, the program which is expected to start production in two years, would aim to fill the local

MinDA urges LGUs to lead cattle production program

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6 VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 270 • TUESDAY, MARCH 2, 2021

In urging Dabawenyos to celebrate this year’s Araw ng Dabaw in remembrance to frontliners who lost their lives while paying tribute to those who are actively involved in the fight against Covid-19: Let this 2021 Araw ng Dabaw be a tribute to all our frontliners, to all whom we have lost this past yearFor it is our grit, our tenacity, and our discipline that will see us through to the end of this pandemic, in the hopes that we may one day safely celebrate our Araw ng Dabaw in the streets once more.”

Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio

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EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 270 • TUESDAY, MARCH 2, 2021

VANTAGE POINTS

7

HENRYLITO D. TACIO THINK ON THESE!

CHASING DREAMS I never thought it would happen.

When I was still a kid, I dreamed of becoming an illustrator and storyteller. I used to sketch a lot of things. I also loved to tell stories crafted from my own imaginations to my friends and siblings.

But I lived in a province (I still do) far, far away from Metro Manila, where the action is. So, I decided to follow my second choice: writing. I “discovered” this talent when my high school Pilipino teacher urged me to join an essay writing contest.

Although I didn’t win in the contest, it served as an impetus for a future career.

It was an arduous task. To gather information, I had to go to our library, reading books, newspapers and magazines like Reader’s Digest (not knowing that in the future I would be writing for this publication). To write my pieces, I had to borrow a typewriter from a neighbor from time to time.

There were instances where I had to scribble my write-ups so that by the time I could borrow a typewriter, I can immediately type them and send it to Manila by snail mail (electronic mail is unheard of in those days). Sensing that I really needed my own typewriter, my mother – with-

out telling me – bought a second-hand typewriter for me.

My mother saw my knack for writing – and was so proud of it. In fact, she bought five copies of Mod magazine when my very first feature, “Children Tell What Doctors Do,” was published. Since then, my articles and features also appeared in Woman’s Home Companion, Focus Philippines, Express Week, Woman Today, Mr. & Ms., Philippine Free Press, and Philippines Graphic.

Dreams are actually the starting point of an ambition.

They offer some of the things we can pursue in life. You don’t go to bed and sleep to literally make your dreams become a reality. You have to do something about them or else you will wake up one day that those dreams are gone into oblivion.

“Don’t give up on your dreams, or your dreams will give up on you,” John Wooden once said.

When you dream, don’t settle for less. After all, there is no fee to dream. Aim high, dream for bigger things in life. Challenge yourself, do the impossible task, and beat the unbeatable foe. “Dream the impossible,” Elijah Wood pointed out, “because dreams do come true.”

But it’s not enough to follow your dreams, as some peo-

ple urge. Instead, chase your dreams. That’s the unsolicited advice of Atty. Nicholas Caraquel, an immigration lawyer now based in New York. He has received several awards and recognitions for his work and some people are telling him that he is lucky.

“No, I am not lucky,” the boyish-looking lawyer who grew up in Davao Oriental clarifies. “I work hard to reach my dreams.”

When he was still a high school student, he was one of the four students in the province who qualified for the National School Press Conference (NSPC) in Baguio City. “We were asked to raise P5,000 for our trip,” he recalled. “The other three students were financially ready three weeks before the trip.”

His parents (his father was a barber while his mother was a dressmaker) couldn’t afford it. “So, I solicited from our local politicians but they said there was ‘no funds.’ So, I solicited money from our local businesses. P5, P10, etc. came a long way but it wasn’t enough. I wrote a letter to our congressman and luckily, I received P1,000.”

All in all, he was able to raise the much-needed P6,000 (to include his allowance) and successfully attended the NSPC. But it was not the end of his

struggles.

“Graduating top 4 in high school and being told by my parents on graduation day that I can’t go to college was devastating,” Atty. Caraquel said. “Unknown to them, I applied for all scholarships available to me and passed all of them. I waited and was lucky to be chosen as the lone state scholarship awardee for Region XI – my ticket to my industrial engineering degree in Ateneo de Davao University.”

How he became a lawyer and ended up an immigration lawyer in New York is another interesting story. Perhaps that’s for another feature. What we want to point out here is that you don’t stop in chasing your dreams when the world says, “No!” It is only in the dictionary where success comes first before work. Allow me to share this anecdote lifted from Frank Mihalic’s 1000 Stories You Can Use: Many years ago, there lived a very old man in North China.

His house faced South and right in front of his door stood the two gigantic peaks of Taihung and Wangwu. They blocked his way to the south. So, he sat down with his sons and made a solemn promise and then got out of his home. They made up

their minds to hack away those two mountains.

A neighbor saw them set to work and shook his head. “How stupid can one get?” he told the father. “It’s absolutely impossible for you to carry away these mighty mountains.”

The old man smiled and replied, “Well, when I die, my sons will carry on the work. When they die, my grandsons will continue what I have started. Yes, the mountains are high but they won’t get any higher. But our strength can still grow. With every bit of soil that we carry away, we come closer to our goal. It is better to do something, than just sit around and complain that those mountains keep out the sunlight.”

And with complete conviction, the old man kept on digging. God saw what he was doing. He was moved to send two of His messengers to earth.

They lifted the two mountains onto their shoulders and carried them off.

The Bible states, “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God” (Luke 18:27). This must be the reason why French novelist (1957 Nobel Prize for Literature) Albert Camus commented, “We turn toward God only to obtain the impossible.”

FRED C. LUMBA SPECKS OF LIFE

WILL HEALTH PROTOCOLS EXTEND UP TO 2022?

“The safest road to hell is the gradual one - the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts.” - C.S. Lewis. ***** Yes and no.

Yes because the government needs to follow guidelines issued by the UN WHO where - if the latter says there is need to continue observing strict health protocols to prevent contamination - the government will likely heed it.

No, because it appears that the one-year ECQ-GCQ-ECQ-GCQ shifting lockdowns have already effectively prevented the spread (in the Philippines) of CoVid19, having suffered less than 15,000 deaths (out of 110 million population) due to the Wuhan contagion pronounced as pandemic by the WHO. Gradually, as announced

by Spox Harry Roque, travel restrictions have been eased so that there is no more need to se-

cure travel passes (although the caveat is that the receiving LGU’s rules on health standards will be followed upon arrival).

The Comelec has announced that if the CoVid 19 contagion remains a threat to the health of the populace, they might yes, might is the word - cancel face-to-face political meetings (miting de avance) as hundreds, sometimes thousands of supporters gather together and who knows - someone with the CoVid virus could infect many others.

What happens if this happens?

Well, candidates who have name recall, who have the money to bank roll their candidacy and promotion via their individual political machinery will have the edge.

This scenario makes it unfair and unjust to other candidates who - using face-to-face (house to house campaign mode) may be able to overcome

wealthy opponents.

As of this writing, there are about 13 months or before the actual polls in May 2022.

So, if a candidate starts early today - exposing himself on the social media platforms and getting interviewed in local radio stations on various issues (without asking people to vote for him), he may have a better than slim chance of making it.

The early bird gets the worm, huh?

Actually, now that Filipinos have gradually developed the good habit of observing health protocols, the wearing of face masks (shields may now be discarded), social distancing and personal hygiene may have become part of their lifestyle, with or without threats of another virus.

On October 1-8, candidates and aspirants to various local and national positions will be filing their individual certificates of candidacies (CoC) and the

mushrooming of people - candidates and supporters alike - will gather at every Comelec office.

We are praying that MGCQ is already declared all over the country so that Filipinos can live normal lives again, regain what they have lost during the difficult lockdown and become prepared for any eventuality.

By and large, Filipinos eat politics for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Not to speak of the “meryenda” during coffee breaks and during siesta time.

Indeed, politics, despite the unsavory taste that is often left in the mouth, remains to be the elixir that keeps Pinoys (alive and kicking) and moving forward.

Whether they elect the right (qualified) people or accidentally install the wrong ones, they deem it simply as somewhat a mechanical error.

There is always a next time, they’d swear this monkey they

put in office will not make it again when re-election time comes.

I see the Comelec in a quandary because incumbent officials therein are not yet agreed on whether they will allow faceto-face campaigning on account of the viral health issue.

The Comelec is in a quandary because it cannot still ascertain whether it will keep Smartmatic as its computerized election partner.

Sectors opposed to the use of Smartmatic are getting larger in numbers because of traumatic experiences in the past.

Thus, we might as well pray as one people: That the Almighty omniscient God drives away the CoVid virus completely and punishes those who might have engineered it.

In Jesus name amen! (Email your feedback to fredlumba@ yahoo.com.) GOD BLESS THE PHILIPPINES!

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LIFESTYLE

A sweet spot for suman and hot chocolate E den, Bayabas in Toril is currently a favorite weekend destination for locals not just because of the cool weather and stunning view but also for native ‘suman’ and hot chocolate at Jamelle Gardens Cafe.

I visited the place recently and I wondered why I hadn’t come earlier.

Just a stone's throw away from Eden Nature Park, Jamelle Gardens Cafe, owned by couple Jim and Jezel Solano, is the perfect place to ponder while having a mug of hot choco or coffee and the sticky tasty suman that you will dip in the homemade chocolate sauce.

Suman and hot chocolate are perennial Pinoy merienda favorites. The pair is nostalgic because the familiar taste of suman and smell of hot choco remind me of Sunday mornings at the market spent with family after attending mass when I was young.

“Our suman recipe is handed down from our lola,” said Jim in an interview.

It is true that all Visayan suman taste almost the same, but theirs have chewy texture and have moderate sweetness while the hot choco is thick and has richer taste.

“I think it is because of the weather why consuming suman and hot choco here is becoming popular. The cool weather here is perfect for the combination of suman and hot choco,” Jezel said.

Jezel said some of their customers will order 100 pieces of suman for take-out.

The café is feeding more than the tummy. It is feeding customers with love and satisfaction.

“Apart from the suman, everything here is home cooked like our best sellers, the humba and lumpia,” Jezel said.

Here, you also eat well for

a normal price.

The place’s name says a lot about it. It is a garden with lots of flowers, plants and a view to look at. If the weather is fine, the place is picturesque, but in cool times it’s more of a foggy kind of beauty.

“Ang ginaanhi pud sa mga customers aside sa food is the ambiance. A breathe of fresh air as part of the experience,” Jim said.

The couple opened the café in the middle of Covid-19 pandemic last October 24, 2020. According to Jezel, the café gave them the reason to go out since they were work-

ing from home.

“Wala mi nag-expect nga ingon ani ang response sa tao sa amoa. This also give the people to go out and dine out.

On weekdays very konti lang ang tao so it is the best time to visit the café para maka-roam around ka and enjoy the nature,” she said.

On weekends, customers

queue and wait for their turn outside the cafe as only limited number of people are allowed to enter the place to ensure that the minimum health protocols are observed. Customers are also required to wear face mask and face shield.

“Medyo controllable

naman kay ang customers come and immediately go after eating,” Jezel said.

The café is also popular for its brewed coffee.

Business hours is at 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekends.

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9

Text and photos by HENRYLITO D. TACIO

F

ilipinos are rice-eating people. Their average annual rice consumption of 123 kilograms per person is among the highest in the world. “If we did not have rice, our deepest comfort food, we would probably feel less Filipino,” observed late food epicure Doreen Fernandez.

It’s no wonder rice is considered a political crop. It is almost always used during political rallies. During election, rice is among those being given to people in order for them to vote for a certain candidate.

When there is a rice shortage, some resort to riots.

If the Philippines has a second national flower (waling-waling with sampaguita as first), why not a second staple food? Nutritionists are suggesting sweet potato as the best alternative to rice. In fact, sweet potato is a staple food source of many indigenous populations in Central and South Americas, Africa, the Caribbean, Hawaiians and Papua New Guineans.

After all, the Philippines is the sixth largest sweet potato producer in Asia and the 19th in the world. About 40% of sweet potato production is from Eastern Visayas and Bicol region, according to the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD).

The Philippine Statistics Authority listed Central Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Eastern Visayas, Caraga, and Northern Mindanao as the top producing regions in 2019.

That year, the volume of sweet potatoes produced in the country was approximately 525.9 thousand metric tons.

Unknown to many, growing sweet potatoes is a profitable venture. In 2018, the production value of the crop was almost P9 billion.

“There are farmers who are making millions of pesos selling sweet potato,” Asia Regional Director Samarendu Mohanty of the International Potato Center told Business World. “The problem is when you look at the Philippines, sweet potato production has been declining. It used to be (planted in) 250,000 hectares in 1980. Now, it’s less than 80,000 hectares.”

Something must be done.

“There are a lot of technologies. There are organizations with developing technologies available in the Philippines and elsewhere. But the thing is how it will reach farmers?” Mohanty asked. “There are differ-

ent technologies but farmers don’t have any clue.”

In a techno-forum on sweet potato held in Benguet some years back, experts shared their knowledge on crop’s propagation technology, disease management, and processing and value-addition.

Farmers need to plant clean planting materials (CPMs) if they want good harvest. “The use of CPM increases yield of quality and disease-free sweet potato,” said Dr. Ines C. Gonzales, chief science research specialist of the Northern Philippines Root Crops Research and Training Center (NPRCRTC).

She suggested that one of the best ways to sustain and maintain quality CPMs is through seed plot technique.

“Farmers need to practice selecting the CPMs from the field, label it, and use it for the next cropping season,” she explained.

By doing this, farmers can save additional expense from buying new CPMs. Propagating CPMs can also be a good business to venture in. An 800-square meters land would be enough to start with a possibility of 50% return of investment.

Sweet potato is attacked by several diseases but Fusarium wilt is a major disease infecting almost all of sweet potato farms in the Cordilleras. In Nueva Vizcaya, a Fusarium wilt outbreak in 2011 almost wiped out the 495 hectares of sweet potato.

The first step in saving the sweet potato from Fusarium wilt and other diseases is by treating the soil, according to Rhonda M. Oloan and Andres A. Basalong, researchers from the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI).

“Because of excessive use of chemical farm inputs, the natural microorganisms and nutrients of the soil are depleted and becomes more vulnerable to diseases,” the two BPI experts explained, adding that one way of conditioning and enriching the soil is through the use of Trichoderma (an effective microorganism as biocontrol agent against diseases) and the practice of crop rotation.

If best practices are being

‘Lowly’ sweet potato takes center stage

done by farmers, including the use of CPMs, NPRCRTC believes the Fu s a r ium wilt

will b e m i t i gated and, thus, quality sweet potatoes will be produced sustainably.

In the early 1990s, NPRCRTC had collected 900 varieties of sweet potato from a l l

ove r t h e country.

“There used to be so many sweet potato varieties in the country, however, due to

diseases and poor crop management, some of them are no longer available,” Dr. Gonzales reported.

As an alternative to rice, NPRCRTC has come up with new varieties according to its purpose (as fries, boiled, or processed) based from the flesh color, texture, and their resistance to pests and diseases.

“Insect pests and diseases, which were difficult to manage, are the limiting factors in sweet potato production,” the research and training center admitted. “However, challenges on insect pests and diseases are being addressed with new technologies on pest management.”

Like rice, sweet potatoes can be prepared in many ways.

“With sweet potato as the base commodity, you can develop a lot of products,” said Prof. Basalong. To name a few: camote hopia, camote cookies, camarind (combination of camote and tamarind) candy, camote bread, camote-guyabano juice, camberry (combination of camote and strawberry) candy, pan de camote, camote muffin, and camote turon.

“Through these processed products, we are encouraging high consumption of sweet potato especially among the young ones who prefer more processed products and not the plain sweet potato,” Prof. Basalong stressed. “These product innovations will also increase public awareness that will eventually lead to higher consumption of this commodity.”

Although sweet potato is a root crop, the Washington, D.C.-based Center for Science in the Public Interest ranked sweet potato (known in the science world as Ipomoea batatas or locally called camote) “the most nutritious food of all vegetables.”

The North Atlantic Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging considered sweet potato as one of the world’s healthiest foods. For one, it has the highest amounts of vitamin A among the root vegetables category. It is almost fat-free (0.39 grams).

According to the United State Department of Agriculture, for one medium size sweet potato, you get 2.15 grams of protein, 31.56 grams of net carbs, 3.8 grams of dietary fiber, 28.6 milligrams of calcium, 16.9 milligrams of so-

dium, 265.2 milligrams of potassium, and 29.51 milligrams of vitamin C. American nutritionists found that sweet potato has “almost twice the recommended daily allowance of vitamin A, 42 percent of the recommendation for vitamin C, and four times the recommended daily allowance for beta carotene.”

A cup of cooked sweet potato (about 200 grams) is better than broccoli and cabbage in vitamins A and C, iron, and calcium content. Because nutrients are anti-inflammatory, they help reduce the severity of asthma, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis.

Having high dietary fiber and low-fat content, sweet potato is suitable for people with diabetes because it helps stabilize blood sugar levels and lowers insulin resistance. Among the root vegetables, camote has the lowest glycemic index. As such, it causes only a small rise in blood glucose levels.

The roots are not the only edible part of camote but also the leaves and tops. Nutritionists claim the leaves and tops contain high amounts of antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and dietary fiber.

In his monthly column, “Straight from the Farm,” Dr. Rafael D. Guerrero III, wrote: “In a study conducted by Chung-Yen Chen and associates of Tufts University in the United States, it was found that the purple leaves of sweet potato contained six grams of total phenolics and 21.5 grams of beta carotene per 100 grams.

“In another study by nutritionist Richard Baybutt of Kansas State University, it was reported that smokers exposed to benzoapyrene, a cancer-producing chemical in cigarettes, were deficient in vitamin A that contributed to lung inflammation and emphysema. Thus, the consumption of foods high in vitamin like camote is recommended to correct such deficiency.”

Now, some words of warning. “Sweet potato contains measurable amounts of oxalates that can crystallize in body fluids and cause health problems,” writes Arlene May G. Corpus, a therapeutic dietitian at the Manila Adventist Medical Center. “If you have existing and untreated kidney or gallbladder problems, you may want to avoid eating sweet potatoes.”

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population, and uniformed personnel who belong in the priority groups will be vaccinated.

The city government is

targeting to immunize 70 percent from the 1.9 million total population of Davao City to achieve the so-called herd immunity.

Development Authority Chair Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos Jr. has likewise volunteered to be inoculated.

“In fact, Chairman Benhur Abalos of the MMDA also informed me that he is willing to be vaccinated,” he added.

Go said that only the success of the vaccination program can restore normalcy in the country. “‘Wag po kayong matakot sa bakuna, matakot po kayo sa COVID-19,” Go urged the public.

“Kailangan natin ipakita sa publiko na ang bakuna ay dapat pagkatiwalaan. Ang bakuna ang tanging susi o solusyon sa ating pagbabalik sa normal nating pamumuhay,” added Go. The Senator acknowledged that many frontliners remain hesitant but stressed that medical and other frontline workers must be prioritized in the vaccination in order to preserve the healthcare system.

“Dapat pangalagaan natin ‘yung buhay at kalusugan ng bawat Pilipino, especially sa laban na ito dahil sila nga ‘yung ating isinabak sa gyerang ito…Ibig sabihin, kumbaga sa military, bibigyan natin sila ng sapat na armas sa gyera na ito,” he explained.

On Sunday, February 28, Go joined President Duterte at the Villamor Air Base in Pasay City to personally witness the arrival of the 600,000 Sinovac vaccine doses donated by the Chinese government.

He said that the arrival of vaccines is also a testament to the Philippines’ strong diplomatic relations with other countries and multilateral organizations.

“Pinatulong na ni Pangulo Duterte si Secretary [Teodoro] Locsin at Secretary [Carlos] Dominguez na makipag-usap, makipag-network sa kanilang [mga] counterpart para ma follow-up kaagad ang pagre-release ng kanilang bakuna. Si Secretary Galvez ay pupunta ng India dahil malaki ang supplier sa India.

Bulto ang kaya nilang i-supply,” disclosed Go. He reassured everyone the vaccine rollout will be continuous and that as soon as the first doses arrive, they will be available to priority groups.

“Tuloy-tuloy po ito…. ang importante gusto ni Pangulo na ilagay ang mga bakuna sa strategic places. Sa Miyerkules ay ilalagay sa Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center sa Cebu at Biyernes naman [sa Southern Philippines Medical Center] sa Davao,” specified Go. “Gusto ni Pangulo… umpisa na kaagad kinabukasan pagbabakuna para makita ng buong bansa na talagang nag uumpisa na [ang rollout],” he added.

Moreover, Go, who is the Chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, reminded the public to remain vigilant against fake news and misinformation amid the ongoing COVID-19 crisis.

He advised everyone to rely on verified information from authorities and health experts, especially regarding the safety and efficacy of vaccines as the national vaccination rollout is underway with the arrival of the first batch of vaccines this week.

“Huwag kayong mani-

Dabawenyos once again to celebrate "Araw" safely within the comforts of their homes.

"And let us remember that while Araw ng Dabaw has always been a joyous

approvals.

Roy added that those products that are approved and registered in markets such as the United States and the European Union should be able to get their FDA approval in the Philippines within six months.

“Some of the products that are already registered in the US or European Union, that means that product has gone through a very stringent regulating approval, so these kinds of products

should be approved in a fast rate basis,” he said.

He also said that for the Philippines to have access to cheaper medicines, Indian pharmaceutical firms urged the government to allow them to participate in biddings of the Department of Health.

“Indian companies cannot participate in Department of Health biddings. It’s because the local laws do not allow Indian pharma compa-

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wala sa mga peke... Alam mo ‘yung mga fake news na ‘yan na nananakot, eh, hindi po makakatulong ‘yan. Papaano tayo babalik sa normal nating pamumuhay, paano mabubuksan ‘yung ekonomiya, paano bubuksan ‘yung mga klase?

Bakuna lang po ang tanging susi,” Go explained.

“Lahat naman sa buong mundo, ang bakuna lang po ang solusyon.

Nakita naman natin, vaccination po (ang ginagawa) sa buong mundo,” he added.

To allay fears and boost public confidence, Go urged the government to heighten its information campaign as the successful vaccine rollout is key for the country to return to normalcy.

“Paigtingin po natin ang ating information campaign, ang ating education campaign na tanging bakuna lamang po ang susi at solusyon dito sa problemang ito,” Go said.

Meanwhile, Go explained that the turnover ceremonies during the arrival of COVID-19 vaccines in the country symbolizes the start of the country’s vaccine rollout and is a show of gratitude to the countries that helped the Philippines secure the vaccines.

“Ang pag-welcome sa mga bakuna na darating sa bansa ay simbolo ito ng ating pasasalamat sa mga bansang tumutulong sa atin upang muling makabangon sa COVID-19 na nagpahirap sa marami sa atin. Gusto natin mapaabot na personal ang pasasalamat sa kanilang pakiisa at pagtulong sa ating bansa,” Go explained. nies to do it. Because of this, we are paying for almost huge commissions to local partners as they represent Indian pharma companies. Hence, our products become more expensive, but on the contrary, they should be extremely affordable,” said Roy. He added that this recommendation should be a high priority in the trade discussions between the Philippines and India. (PNA)

GOV’T... FROM3 celebration of pomp and pageantry, it is, at its core, a celebration of and a salute to the Dabawenyo," she said.

The city government has prepared a number

of online events and features that will showcase the best of Davao such as "Tilaw Dabaw", "Hugyaw Dabaw," "Obra Dabaw," and "Istilo Dabaw."

Duterte explained that establishing an "effectively perpetual" trust fund would violate Article IV Section 29(3) of the 1987 Constitution.

In the new bill, the management and disbursement of the Coconut Farmers and Industry Trust Fund will be implemented by the PCA based on the Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Plan and as approved by the President of the Philippines.

The said plan will also lay out the rehabilitation of the industry in the next 99 years, the suggested lifespan of the Trust Fund.

The Trust Fund seeks to establish facilities for the coconut industry and empower coconut farmers' cooperatives and organizations. It will also be utilized for farm improvement, scholarship grants, and health and medical programs for members of the industry.

produce the next generation Covid vaccine offers a lot of advantages as it can capture newer Covid-19 strains and other mutations unlike the first generation Covid-19 vaccines which are only 22 percent effective against the new South African strain and other new strains found around the world,” the local pharma company said.

It added that storing requirement for the EuCorVac-19 is less demand-

ing compared to the first generation of Covid-19 vaccines as Eubiologics’ vaccine can last for three months at 25°Celsius, or keep it for a longer period at 2°C to 8°C. Glovax has sold more than five million doses of vaccines in the Philippines since 2003. The firm distributes vaccines against polio, tuberculosis, measles, tetanus, and rabies as well as pentavalent vaccines. (PNA)

beef requirements then gradually increase the number of cattle in the program to supply the big cities in the Visayas and Luzon,” he added.

Piñol said Lanao del Sur, Davao del Norte, Misamis Oriental, and North Cotabato have signified intention to join the program.

“On Tuesday (March 2), I will personally present the program to Misamis Occidental Governor Philip Tan to complete the number of pilot provinces needed for the program. Each of the provinces will start with an initial 1,000 steers or culled cows to be fattened,” he added. (PNA)

the previous year.

As of Feb. 18, Guballa said JTI Philippines overtook Philip Morris Fortune Tobacco Co. (PMFTC) as the top tobacco excise taxpayer, with JTI’s remittance of PHP10.94 billion accounting for 62 percent of the total collection of PHP17.57 billion for the Feb. 1-18 period.

JTI Philippines’ February tax payment is 108 percent more than the PHP5.25 billion it paid in January 2021, Guballa said.

In 2017, the DOF made history by collecting from cigarette manufacturer Mighty Corp. a tax settlement totaling PHP30 billion --the biggest sum on record raised by the government from a

tax settlement-- resulting from the Dominguez-ordered heightened joint campaign by the BIR and the Bureau of Customs (BOC) against tax cheats.

Forced to shut down its operations, Mighty sold its manufacturing and distribution assets to JTI Philippines. Tax collections from Mighty brands increased by an average of PHP2.5 billion a month since JTI took over Mighty's operations.

Dominguez earlier expressed confidence the BIR would be able to overshoot its PHP2.08-trillion collection target this year as it faces the “great task” of raising as much revenues as possible to help fund the comprehensive government effort to defeat

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sa mga priority [groups] natin, sa mga frontliners, indigent na senior citizens para unti-unti na tayong makabalik sa normal nating pamumuhay,” said Go. “Nag-order ang ating Pangulo na sundin ang sa priority list. In fact, itong 100,000 sa Sinovac, inilaan ito sa mga sundalo at civilian employees ng [Department of National Defense]. Ready na ang Veterans Memorial Medical Center na mag-conduct ng kanilang pagbabakuna,” he added.

The Senator, who is the Chair of the Senate Committee on Health, stressed the need for unity in order for the country to overcome the ongoing crisis, and praised the recent efforts by the executive branch and both houses of Congress to pass the COVID-19 Vaccination Program Act. The law, which the President signed the previous day, February 26, will fast-track the administration of COVID-19 vaccines and establish an indemnification fund.

During the interview, Go credited the hard work of Senate President Vicente Sotto III, Senate Majority Leader Miguel Zubiri, Minority Leader Senator Franklin Drilon, Senator Sonny Angara and other legislators for their efforts to pass the bill immediately.

“Isa po ito sa mga requirements na hinihingi ng mga manufacturers para mabilis ang pag-apruba ng vaccine (indemnity fund)…Ang nangyari ngayon ‘take it or leave it’! Nag-uunahan ang mga bansa para makakuha ng bakuna. So, our hands were tied. Nakatali ang ating mga kamay. No choice tayo kung hindi sumunod sa mga kasunduan,” explained Go. “What is important right now is we work as a team—Executive, Legislative and Judiciary…Ang pinaka-importante dito ang bakuna. ‘Yun ang susi, ang tanging solusyon dito sa problema natin,” he ended. the Covid-19 pandemic and support the nation’s sustainable economic recovery.

He said the digitalization initiatives put in place by the BIR under the leadership of Commissioner Caesar Dulay, along with the bureau's improved administrative systems, dedicated workforce and the cooperation of taxpayers, will enable the agency to achieve its 2021 collection goal. (PR)

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PSA to go online for annual awards

T LeBron James scored 19 points in his 1,300th regular-season appearance.

he Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) is pushing through with a unique kind of ceremony for its annual awards.

Due to the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, the Philippines' oldest media organization will be doing a virtual edition of its awards night on March 27.

While some guests would be invited to attend the event in person at the TV5 Media Center in Mandaluyong City, the PSA Annual Awards Night will be mainly done through video conferencing.

The PSA Awards will honor the Filipino athletes who never wavered despite the pandemic and excelled

in the sports they are in.

Like the previous editions, the Athlete of the Year will be the main highlight of the awarding ceremony.

Last year, the entire Philippine team that played in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games was given the Athletes of the Year award for taking home the overall title of the regional biennial meet.

Also to be handed out are the Executive of the Year, President's Award, National Sports Association of the Year, and the Lifetime Achievement Award along with some other citations.

The names of the awardees will be named gradually in the coming days. (PNA)

hen ONE Championship announced that Team Lakay veteran Stephen “The Sniper” Loman was joining the Home of Martial Arts in February, the former undisputed Brave CF Bantamweight Champion says the decision was founded on the promise of being able to face the toughest challenges possible.

At “ONE on TNT IV,” Loman gets his wish.

Loman will face #1-ranked bantamweight mixed martial arts contender, and former UFC veteran John “Hands of Stone” Lineker of Brazil in a threeround bout. The event is the fourth installment of the “ONE on TNT” event series, and will be broadcast live Wednesday, April 28 (April 29 in PH).

“ONE Championship put

me up against John Lineker immediately, and I can actually say, I was a bit surprised. But at the same time, I’m very happy. It’s a chance for me to fight the best, which is what I wanted. He is one of the best fighters in the division, and a very tough opponent for me,” said Loman.

“I’m taking on a very dangerous man who is maybe the top-ranked fighter in the division now next to the bantamweight king, Bibiano [Fernandes]. It’s not an easy fight, by any means. Lineker has a lot of power.”

Lineker earned pole position in the rankings after defeating Loman’s Team Lakay teammate, former ONE Bantamweight World Champion Kevin “The Silencer” Belingon last October. Lineker stopped Belingon inside of two rounds.

Lakers rip Warriors in LBJ’s 1,300th game W L

Loman signs with ONE Championship to find toughest challenges possible

OS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Lakers blew a 14-point, fourth-quarter lead in their first meeting against the Golden State Warriors. They were determined not to let that happen Sunday night (Monday, Manila time).

LeBron James scored 19 points in his 1,300th regular-season appearance as the Lakers routed the Warriors 117-91.

James is the 23rd player in NBA history to appear in that many regular-season games. He was one of six Los Angeles players to score in double figures.

The defending NBA champions had dropped five of six since Anthony Davis suffered a right calf

strain on Feb. 14, but have won their last two.

Eric Paschall scored 18 points for Golden State, which had its threegame winning streak snapped. Stephen Curry added 16 points and Kelly Oubre Jr. 14.

The Warriors rallied for a 115-113 victory on Jan. 18 at Staples Center, but never had a chance in this one. Los Angeles went on a 16-2 run to take

Heat burn Hawks to extend streak to 6

M

IAMI — The Miami Heat are back at .500, not even a couple weeks removed from being near the very bottom of the Eastern Conference.

Kendrick Nunn scored 24 points, Bam Adebayo had 16 points and 13 rebounds, and the Heat extended the NBA's longest current winning streak to six games by beating the Atlanta Hawks 109-99 on Sunday night (Monday, Manila time).

"That was a big-time game for us," Nunn said.

"Took a step in the right direction."

Previous Achiuwa had 14 points in 12 minutes for Miami, which used a 10-0 run late in the fourth quarter to pull away from a game that was tied at 95 with 3:00 left. Tyler Herro had 12 of his 14 points for Miami in the fourth and

Goran Dragic scored 13 for the Heat (17-17).

John Collins led all scorers with 34 points for Atlanta, plus grabbed 10 rebounds. Clint Capela finished with 20 points and 14 rebounds for the Hawks, while Trae Young added 15 points, nine assists and eight rebounds.

But Young shot just 3 for 14.

"He's seen the pressure," Hawks coach Lloyd Pierce said. "He knows teams are going to throw different defenses at us.

A lot of it's focused on taking the ball out of his hands. And we have ways to punish, but again, if you don't make shots there's nothing really we can do."

Kevin Huerter scored 13 for the Hawks, who were just 8 for 35 from 3-point range.

The teams play again Tuesday in Miami when

a 20-5 lead with 7:23 remaining in the first quarter as four of its first six field goals were 3-pointers.

The Lakers ended the quarter with 12 straight points to go up 41-21.

James had 10 points in the quarter, including two on free throws as Los Angeles was 13 of 16 from the line in the quarter.

Los Angeles had a season-high 73 first-half points as it extended its lead to 29 at halftime (7344). Its largest lead was 35 late in the third quarter.

GREEN INJURED Draymond Green suffered a left ankle sprain during the second quarter

and did not return after scoring six points in 13 minutes.

TIP-INS Warriors: Golden State was 8 of 34 from beyond the arc. The 23.5% accuracy rate is its fourth worst of the season.

Lakers: Markieff Morris and Alex Caruso each scored 13 points, while Dennis Schröder and Kyle Kuzma had 12 apiece and Talen Horton-Tucker 11. ... This was the fourth time over the past two seasons Los Angeles has led by at least 28 points at halftime. ... The Lakers were 6 of 9 on 3-pointers in the first quarter but struggled the rest of the game, going 5 of 22.

Andre Iguodala, 37, show he still has hops with this throwdown against the Hawks. AP the Heat — who have won 10 of their last 13 — will try to get over .500 for the first time all season.

Miami played Sunday without Jimmy Butler, sidelined by right knee inflammation.

"With Jimmy out,

I thought guys really stepped up and filled in in a lot of different places," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said.

Miami led 54-44 at the half, a big part of that because of their defense on Young. He was scoreless

until 2:53 remained in the half, the deepest he's gone into a game this season without a point.

Collins was 4 for 4 in the second quarter, helping keep the Hawks within striking distance.

He stayed dominant

in the third. Collins had 19 in that quarter alone — the second-most any player has had in a quarter against Miami this season, one shy of the 20 that Philadelphia's Joel Embiid had in the third quarter of the 76ers' win over the Heat on Jan. 12.

8 SPORTS

FAIR PLAY

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 262 • SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2021 VOL.13 ISSUE 270 • TUESDAY, MARCH 2, 2021

Anti-doping policies in National Sports Summit 2021

E

fforts towards clean and fair play in the country get the spotlight when batch 2 of the online National Sports Summit 2021 starts this March 4.

Dr. Alejandro Pineda, head of the Philippine National Anti-Doping Organization (PHINADO), leads the sports conference on Thursday, providing an in-depth discussion on the implementation of the 2021 World Anti-Doping Code in the country.

Pineda, a known figure in guiding national athletes and coaches in complying with world anti-doping policies, has been representing the

country in the Southeast Asia Regional Anti-doping Organization (SEA RADO) since 2006.

“The area of honest and fair play is very vital to impart, most especially to our athletes, coaches, and sports educators who are directly involved in the practice of training minds and bodies to be at its prime,” explained the PSC's National Training Director Marc Velasco, who is also the summit's

Project Director.

This coming session opens the second batch of the migrated sports conference to adapt to the limits of the COVID-19 pandemic. There are three subjects to be discussed in this batch namely, “Anti-Doping Efforts in Philippine Sports,” “Sports Science and Sports Success,” and “High-Performance Sports and Athletic Success.”

A gym member works out with a face mask on at the Arcadia Fitness Gym along Quimpo Boulevard in Ecoland.

Gym users are still required to follow health protocols when doing exercises.